Photographer Faces Charges for Documenting Graffiti

Los Angeles photographer Jonas Lara could face up to a year in prison. Lara was arrested last February while taking pictures of graffiti artists putting up a mural in an abandoned South Central building. His initial charge was felony vandalism, now changed to a misdemeanor of aiding and abetting as he faces trial on May 11.

The cops claim he was keeping a look out for the graffiti artists, which would be kind of difficult seeing as how he was busy taking photos. Lara was photographing the activity for an ongoing project on 30 visual artists and as a journalist he had the right to be there.

In an interview with LA-based photographer’s rights blog, Discarted, Lara says he wishes he was better informed of his rights and spoke up when he was arrested and detained. Lara was also stripped of his camera, lenses and memory cards, which are his livelihood. His equipment has not yet been returned.

WHILE REAL CRIMES ARE BEING COMMITTED, THIS IS WHAT THE COPS ARE WORRYING ABOUT? FORGET FOCUSING ON HOMELESSNESS, OR SPENDING TIME TRYING TO FIND SEXUAL PREDATORS, THEY ARE WORRYING ABOUT GRAFITTI? WHETHER YOU CALL IT ART OR VANDALISM, IS THIS REALLY A TOP PRIORITY? THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG HERE.

Guess what, when you accept an invitation to go watch people commit crimes, you are now a participant. It doesn't mean dick that this guy happens to be a photographer.

All of you mouth-breathers that don't consider tagging a "real crime" don't know what you are talking about. It costs hundreds of dollars to clean graffiti. On some surfaces it can be thousands. The average convenience store robbery nets about $60.00.

I'd like to see tagging made a felony with mandatory minimum jail sentences.